{"id":382036,"date":"2020-11-16T12:03:23","date_gmt":"2020-11-16T17:03:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/?p=382036"},"modified":"2020-11-16T12:03:23","modified_gmt":"2020-11-16T17:03:23","slug":"organic-produce-members-team-up-in-organic-trade-associations-produce-council","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/index.php\/organic-produce-members-team-up-in-organic-trade-associations-produce-council\/","title":{"rendered":"Organic produce members team up in Organic Trade Association\u2019s Produce Council"},"content":{"rendered":"

\nNew forum enables members to collaboratively problem solve, supported by association\u2019s expertise
\n<\/h2>\n
\n

Washington, D.C., Nov. 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The American organic produce sector is big and complex. It accounts for more sales than any other organic sector, and its production regions stretch across the United States reaping a dizzying array of fruits and vegetables. The issues facing organic produce growers, processors and distributors are equally wide-ranging: food safety, labor issues, labeling\/packaging issues, climate change.
\u00a0
Driven by the desire for the sector to collaboratively work together to address its most urgent challenges, inspired by the success of other sector councils at the Organic Trade Association, and wanting to take advantage of the association\u2019s deep knowledge and expertise in organic, leading produce members initiated a drive earlier this year that has resulted in the trade association\u2019s Board of Directors\u2019 official approval to establish an Organic Produce Council.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe whole-heartedly welcome the formation of this sector council and look forward to problem-solving and collaborating with our colleagues throughout the organic produce supply chain,\u201d said Board member Ben Diesl of Grimmway Farms. \u201cThis council will give Organic Trade Association member companies that are involved in the organic industry an organized opportunity to benefit from the association\u2019s expertise, to network with diverse stakeholders and to influence the overall agenda of the association. We invite other produce members to join.\u201d
\u00a0
\u201cThe new Produce Council, as with all of our sector councils, will be supported by the Organic Trade Association\u2019s expert staff,\u201d said Laura Batcha, CEO and Executive Director of the trade association. \u201cOur staff has deep expertise in organic standards, food safety, farm policy, government advocacy and international marketing. Today\u2019s organic produce sector is robust and thriving, but it faces many challenges. We are thrilled that our produce members are coming together and tapping into their association\u2019s bank of knowledge to help them deal with those challenges.\u201d
\u00a0
Organic produce sales hold the top position in the U.S. marketplace. In 2019, organic fruit and vegetable sales reached $18 billion, as the category continued to be the star of the organic sector. Organic produce currently makes up almost a third of all organic food sales, and organic fruits and vegetables, including fresh, frozen, canned and dried, have now captured 15 percent of the total fruits and vegetable market in the U.S.
\u00a0
The produce sector has been profoundly tested by COVID-19 as it has struggled to keep its workers in the fields, plants and trucks safe, and at the same time meet exploding demand. Wanting to hear how the pandemic was affecting their businesses, Organic Trade Association\u2019s Farm Policy Director Johanna Mirenda and Diesl of Grimmway Farms earlier this year convened produce members for a COVID-19 listening session. Everything from how to keep workers safely socially distanced and maintain planting and harvesting schedules to keeping processing lines filled and store deliveries on time were discussed.<\/p>\n

Working together to address challenges <\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cOur members taking part in this discussion found it very valuable to connect with other of our produce members\u201d said Mirenda, who is staff liaison for the new council. \u201cSince then, individual members have come forward with other organic produce issues–such as food safety–that could serve as work plan projects for the new council to take on.\u201d The interest from members was significant enough that the trade association hosted an exploratory meeting in early September to highlight the opportunity for a new sector council among all Organic Trade Association produce members. Nearly two dozen members attended.\u00a0
\u00a0
Produce stakeholders said that besides food safety, they are interested in working together, with the support of the trade association\u2019s regulatory and legislative staff, to advance outcomes relating to other key issues in organic produce, such as: implementing the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s new rule on strengthening organic enforcement, guaranteeing workforce safety and availability, supporting development of organic seeds and planting stock, and identifying tools for measuring and promoting biodiversity. Establishing organic labeling and packaging best practices, adapting to and mitigating climate change and developing resources on market data and research information were also identified as key needs.
\u00a0
Members also indicated the following priorities for their engagement: <\/p>\n